Ailing, young UM defense must figure out Ga. Tech triple option

(Al Diaz )

September 18, 2012|By Michael Casagrande, Sun Sentinel

CORAL GABLES — The numbers don't paint the prettiest of pictures for Miami.

The Hurricanes have the 102nd-best run defense in the country. Georgia Tech's rushing offense ranks third nationally. The challenge is, well, daunting. And it isn't getting any easier from a personnel standpoint.

Miami (2-1, 1-0 ACC) will be without a second starting linebacker after Denzel Perryman officially came off this week's depth chart Tuesday. The lower-leg injury he suffered against Bethune-Cookman kept him from practicing this week.

Even at full strength, it's been an adventure defensively for Miami, at times, this September.

After allowing 288 rushing yards at Kansas State and 233 to Bethune-Cookman, Miami coach Al Golden keeps the faith in his short-handed defense.

"I hope we're better," Golden said. "We're going to be tested. This is the best. They're the best at what they do in the country."

Again, he'll look to the reserves for a spark. A week earlier, Ramon Buchanan was lost for the season at Kansas State.

The loss of Buchanan and Perryman created another opportunity for former starter Jimmy Gaines. After being bumped down to second team following a spring injury, he's back competing with Gionni Paul for the starting job in the middle.

"Now that Buchanan is gone, Jimmy has become the older guy that we go to," redshirt freshman starting outside linebacker Eddie Johnson said. "Jimmy is that guy you can rely on. Jimmy's is going to make sure we know the call."

Gaines would be the only of the three Miami first-team linebackers with experience facing Georgia Tech's unique spread option. He had three tackles as one of four starters back from a Miami defense that shut down the Yellow Jackets a year ago. The 24-7 Miami win saw Tech gain just 134 rushing yards on 48 tries.

This time coach Paul Johnson's team has the experience and the momentum.

Averaging 374 yards rushing a game, the Yellow Jackets bring a veteran offense long removed from Friday night action. Quarterback Tevin Washington is one of three juniors or seniors in the Tech backfield.

Only three sophomores and no freshmen start for a Georgia Tech offense that'll see at least five that young in Miami's first-string defense.

"[Johnson has] got the kind of maturity and decision-making he wants at quarterback," Golden said. "Both sides of the ball have the personnel the way they want. When you turn on the tape, they look like it. They really look like it."

There are five freshmen or sophomores in Miami's two-deep depth chart in the secondary. First-year starting safety Deon Bush said he had success in high school facing an offense of a similar nature, but acknowledged there are few similarities in terms of talent and experience.

"It's very different," he said. "You have to be more disciplined. You have to be disciplined with your eyes and make sure things don't get behind you and just be physical and smart."

Miami's fourth-string running back Dallas Crawford, a former option quarterback in high school, is playing the role of Washington in practice. But the quarterback is just one of many threats in the backfield.

Six different Georgia Tech players got at least 10 carries in three games and four have triple-digit rushing totals. Washington's 253 yards on 39 carries leads the team, though his 6.5-yard average is last among the four with at least 100 yards.